Sam Galbraith's decision to resign his position as a Scottish Cabinet minister will not come as a surprise to some observers.

Mr Galbraith, who underwent lung surgery in 1990, cited health reasons as the key factor in his decision.

The former brain surgeon has endured a testing two years as a minister in the Scottish Parliament with difficult portfolios to handle.

Coupled with this has been his commitment to his Strathkelvin and Bearsden constituency as both an MSP and MP.

Mr Galbraith has held demanding positions

Mr Galbraith has also decided to resign from his Scottish Parliament seat. He was, like most other MSPs, about to relinquish his Westminster seat at the general election anyway.

The 55-year-old has gained a reputation as a pragmatic and dedicated politician over the years.

Before entering politics he was a consultant surgeon for nearly 10 years for Greater Glasgow Health Board.

He won the previously Tory-held seat of Strathkelvin and Bearsden in 1987, covering much of the prosperous suburbs to the north of Glasgow.

At Westminster he first became an opposition spokesman on Scottish affairs and health until 1992, when he switched to employment.

His previous career gave him unique insights into his job as health minister at the Scottish Office.

Teachers' pay

As a Scottish minister he weathered storms over the National Health Service, in particular in January 1999 when a top consultant, Dr Keith Little, resigned as clinical director of the accident and emergency unit at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary over delays for patients needing beds.

Mr Galbraith became the Scottish Parliament's first education minister.

In that role he faced controversies over teachers' pay and conditions and Section 28, the repeal of the legislation on homosexuality in schools.